Predictions for Experiments
Experiments to show that the state of consciousness is not in the cerebral cortex
1. Correlations between Diencephalic and Cortical Activity
fMRI might be used to show that only the percept will demonstrate correlated brain activity between the diencephalon (esp. Thalamus) and cerebral cortex in subjects subjected to Pattern Rivalry or Binocular Fusion experiments.
2. Effect of General Anaesthetics
Application of general anaesthetic by micropippette directly on to a putative 'centre for consciousness' should cause absence seizures or other signs of loss of consciousness. Any animal subject for this experiment would have the contralateral area of brain removed.
3. Extracellular electrical stimulation
Cyclical extracellular electrical stimulation in a putative 'centre for consciousness' should cause absence seizures or other signs of loss of consciousness. Any animal subject for this experiment would have the contralateral area of brain removed. Extracellular stimulation is required because the conscious state may be a synaptic phenomenon (cf: Velasco et al).
4. Synchronisation of activity
Different sensory modalities that emanate from the same object (ie: sound from a loudspeaker) should be represented by correlated, and possibly, synchronised activity in the different parts of the sensory cortex and in the diencephalic centre for consciousness. The synchronisation/correlation would emanate from the diencephalon.
5. Effect of TMS
If transcranial magnetic stimulation can be applied focally in the diencephalon it should be possible to cause absence seizures or other signs of loss of consciousness.
6. Psychological Experiments that demonstrate a delay of about 0.5 secs between sensation and experience.
The Crank Handle illusion is a development of the phi illusion that demonstrates a processing delay.
Download the illusion here: Handle.exe
Experiments to show that the state of consciousness is a geometric form
(Any animal subject for these experiments would have the contralateral area of brain removed.)
Careful administration of general anaesthetic to parts of a putative centre for consciousness should demonstrate topographic effects on consciousness.
Cyclical extracellular electrical stimulation to parts of a putative centre for consciousness should demonstrate topographic effects on consciousness.
Cyclical physical deformation of a putative centre for consciousness should demonstrate effects on consciousness such as absence seizures or other signs of loss of consciousness.
Experiments to show that the geometric form may control the state of the brain
Activity in the cerebral cortex should show signs of quantum noise if the centre for consciousness is inactivated such as during general anaesthesia or cyclical extracellular electrical stimulation.